Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) is proud to announce the installation of 33 Critical Bleed Control (CBC) Kits within Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) cabinets at Fire Stations across its Service area.
From left to right: Crew Manager Steve Richards, Medical Response Officer Steven Jarvis, Chief Fire Officer Craig Flannery and Melanie James.
The introduction of these kits marks another important step in strengthening the Service’s lifesaving capability and improving access to emergency equipment within local communities.
Designed to help control catastrophic bleeding, CBC kits can be vital in emergencies resulting from road traffic collisions, serious accidents, impalements, knife crime and other traumatic incidents. By providing immediate access to specialist bleeding control equipment, the kits can help provide assistance before emergency services arrive.
The rollout forms part of an initiative led by Heartbeat UK in partnership with The Daniel Baird Foundation, both of which are dedicated to improving public access to lifesaving interventions. To mark the occasion, MAWWFRS Chief Fire Officer, Craig Flannery, and Medical Response Officer, Steven Jarvis, welcomed Melanie James, Founder of Heartbeat UK and former High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, and Steve Richards, Crew Manager and Ambassador, to Service Headquarters in Carmarthen.
MAWWFRS has supported this charitable initiative since its inception and is pleased to continue working alongside Heartbeat Trust UK to expand the availability of essential emergency equipment throughout the communities it serves.
As the first Fire and Rescue Service in Wales to install CBC kits in all externally accessible defibrillator cabinets located at its Fire Stations, MAWWFRS is leading the way in making lifesaving resources more readily available to the public. This achievement reflects the Service's ongoing commitment to prevention, preparedness and community safety.
The importance of these kits is perhaps best demonstrated by Crew Manager Steve Richards, of Llanelli Fire Station, who used the very first bleed control kit to help save a life during an emergency. His actions highlight not only the effectiveness of the equipment, but also the professionalism, dedication and community-focused values that underpin the work of MAWWFRS personnel every day.